§ 40. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the letter addressed to him by the President of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce emphasising the drift towards inflation owing to wages increases being followed by a rise in commodity prices; and whether he will make a statement on the policy of the Government in the provision of a check upon this tendency?
§ Mr. AttleeMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has received the letter to which my hon. Friend refers, and has arranged that the Association of British Chambers of Commerce shall have an opportunity of stating their views more fully to the Ministers concerned. The Government are, I need hardly say, impressed with the dangers of inflation, and since the outbreak of war have taken action in a variety of ways of prevent any uncontrolled rise in basic prices. It would, of course, be quite wrong to regard every increase in prices, whatever its nature and scope, as potentially inflationary; but close attention is paid to all significant 23 movements of prices with the view to applying appropriate checks in good time if any dangerous tendency develops.
§ Sir P. HannonIs my right hon. Friend not aware that for months past there has been a race between the rise in prices of commodities and the increase in wages, and could we not have an early declaration of policy on the part of the Government?
§ Mr. AttleeThe subject is far too complicated to be discussed by Question and Answer.